THE SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMEDOV AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.

PositionConference notes

Dear participants of International conference! Ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, let me welcome you at the ceremonial session of International conference "Policy of neutrality and its significance in provision of universal peace, security and sustainable development", which is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan. Let me express my gratitude for your participation in this forum, willingness to share your approaches, proposals and opinions on important subjects of its versatile agenda.

Receiving of internationally recognized status of permanent neutrality by Turkmenistan on December 12, 1995 has become an important and, without exaggeration, a historical event for our country. It has determined the direction and content of foreign policy of Turkmen state, made powerful positive effect on internal development, fulfilment of major national plans in the economics and social sphere, establishment and strengthening of democratic institutes.

Special feature of international recognition of permanent neutrality of our country was that such status has been supported and consolidated by unanimous decision of the General Assembly by special Resolution for the first time in the UN practice. Leading states of the world, including the countries, which are among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, were the coauthors of the document. Therefore, Turkmenistan's neutrality has received international legitimacy, having become an integral part of the world politics and diplomacy Today, on behalf of the people of Turkmenistan, I address sincere gratitude to all states for support, active participation in development and adoption of historical resolution on permanent neutrality.

I speak of efficient work of the UN Secretariat, its personnel who provided operational solution of necessary organizational issues and procedures with gratitude. Undoubtedly, international recognition of our neutrality has not been a one-time event. The adoption of the Resolution by the General Assembly has been forestalled by big and painstaking political and diplomatic activity in various spheres and numerous rounds of talks. In this regard, I would like to mention constructive position of the state members of the economic Cooperation Organization, which have adopted the statement on support of Turkmenistan's neutrality at the Summit in Islamabad in spring 1995.

The Summit of Non-Alignment Movement in Columbian Cartagena, where the neutrality of Turkmenistan has received a unanimous support from this competent international association, was the next stage. I am speaking of these events to highlight another important and as per my opinion, very remarkable reality of the period 25 years back.

It means that back then, during breakthrough phase of finishing of block confrontation, elimination of usual schemes and configurations of international policy, the neutrality of Turkmenistan has received comprehensive support including from the states, which sometime have complicated relations between each other, professing different views and doctrines on development of modern world. I am confident that prepositions for use of neutral model as one of stabilizing factors of the world politics have been formed up objectively back then. I think that we have managed to explain and, in some cases, to convince our partners that appearance of neutral peace-loving state in important geopolitical region on the map would be a considerable factor of positive development of regional and international processes. Certainly, meaningful historical practice of joint living of Turkmens with other nations gained for the centuries was an important driving force behind choosing of neutrality.

Despite various periods, it has always been based on peace-loving, respect, tolerance and transparency. Having received the independence, we have turned these concepts into clearly defined principles of foreign policy and found the most suitable and organic model of neutrality for their successful practical application. We named it positive neutrality, having highlighted the character and orientation of our international cooperation, desire to build good and equal constructive relations with all states. Turkmenistan has offered them friendship, cooperation, equal rights, and being a neutral state, having undertaken the obligations for non-interference to internal affairs, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-participation in multilateral military and political treaties and unions. "Support of such course has been reflected in resolutions and other decisions made by international organizations and...

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